Roller conveyer



June 6, 1939.

M. S. BOWEN ROLLER CONVEYER Filed June 6, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 6, 1 939. M 5, BQWEN 2,160,807

ROLLER CONVEYER Filed June 6, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 6, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROLLER CONVEYER Application June 6, 1938, Serial No. 212,170

14 Claims.

This invention relates to conveyers and is directed more particularly to roller conveyers wherein the roller mountings are movably and resiliently supported with respect to the main 5 conveyer frame.

The present invention constitutes in effect a modification of the resilient roller support principle described and claimed in Hubert M. Rishel patents, Nos. 2,077,188, 2,077,189 and 2,077,190

1U granted April 13, 1937.

The primary object of the present invention is v to provide a particularly simple and inexpensive form of resilient mounting for conveyer rollers wherein the rollers are movable in a vertical if, plane with respect to the frame, and such movement is controlled by a resilient toggle lever arrangement.

Another object is to provide a resiliently mounted roller conveyer wherein the individual rollers 20 are resiliently mounted, and movement thereof in a vertical plane is controlled by a toggle lever, one end of which is connected to a fixed support, and the opposite end to the roller mounting, while the middle pivotal joint or knee is connected to 05 a fixed support through a resilient element. The

arrangement being such that relatively heavy loads on the roller may be resiliently supported by means of a relatively small force exerted by the resilient element due to the mechanical adi vantage obtained through the use of the toggle lever arrangement.

A further object is to provide a resiliently mounted conveyer which shall consist of a few parts that are simple in construction, inexpensive 35 to manufacture, and which are easily and quickly assembled.

A still further object is to provide a resiliently mounted conveyer of the aforesaid character which shall effectively absorb the shock of im- 4 pact due to loading or conveying irregular shaped objects over the conveyer, which shall provide a relatively smooth ride for the articles moving thereover, and which shall be compact and ccupy a relatively small overall heighth.

4;; With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in view, the invention may be stated to consist in the various novel features of construction and arrangement or combination, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a conveyer constructed in accordance with my in- 55 vention and illustrating a simple resilient toggle lever arrangement for supporting the conveyer rollers;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of a conveyer embodying a modified form of construction employing a compound resilient toggle lever arrangement for supporting the conveyer rollers;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of a simple resilient toggle lever arrangement similar to Figure 1 but wherein the resilient element is adjustable to vary the tension on the pivotal joint thereof; and

Figure 6 is a similar View but illustrating a modified form of construction wherein an adjustable compression spring is used in connection with the toggle joint.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the reference numeral l0 denotes the conveyer frame generally. This frame may be of any suitable or approved construction and as here illustrated, it consists of a pair of lower transversely spaced and longitudinally extending angle members II and I2, a similar pair of upper angle members l3 and I4, and vertically disposed angle supports l5 interconnecting said lower and upper members. Similar angle members l6 extend transversely between the conveyer side frames ll, l2 and I3 and M.

A plurality of rollers l8 are arranged between the upper side frames l3 and I4, and as shown in Figure 1, these rollers are of conventional de- 3 sign and are provided with elongated axles [9 which project through slots 20 in the side rails. These slots are preferably vertically disposed so that displacement of the individual rollers will always be in vertical planes parallel to the axes of the rollers. The outer ends of the axles may be fitted with cotter pins 21 or other suitable fastening means to retain the parts in position.

Journalled on the end portions of each roller axle intermediate the roller and side frames are a pair of levers 23, the opposite ends of each of which are pivotally connected to a lever 24 by means of a transverse rod 26, and the lower end of each lever 24 in turn is pivotally connected to the lower side frame angle member by a tie rod 29. A resilient tension element 25 is connected between a vertical support l5 of the conveyer frame and the pivotal connection between each of levers 23 and 24. The parts are preferably so proportioned that the springs 25 are under an initial tension independent of the weight of the rollers and their associated parts. From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a load passing over the rollers will depress the same in a vertical direction against the tension of springs 25 and the action of levers 23 and 24 which in effect form a toggle.

In Figure 5, I have illustrated a slightly modified form of construction wherein the springs 25, instead of being connected directly to the vertical supports [5, are each connected to an eye bolt 21 that is threaded through the support and provided with nuts 28. It is obvious that the eye bolt may be adjusted by nuts 28 to vary the tension of each spring. In other respects, the construction is similar to that described above.

In Figures 3 and 4, I have illustrated a further modification of my invention wherein double or compound toggle levers are used instead of single or simple toggle levers. I have also illustrated a slightly different form of conveyer frame comprising transversely spaced and longitudinally extending channel members 30, 30 which are tied together at a suitable interval with the usual transverse angle members 3|. The vertical web portions of the side frames 30 are slotted as indicated at 32 to receive the end portions of the roller axles E9? The lever 23 are journalled on each end of each axles and two levers 24 are pivotally connected to the conveyer side frames by means of a transverse rod 29 The lower ends of levers 23 and the upper ends of levers 24 are journalled on transverse rods 26 and 26 The levers 23 and 24 define a diamond shaped structure as clearly shown in Figure 3 and thereby form a toggle joint. A resilent tension element 25 is connected across the toggle joint between the pivotal points of arms 24 and arms 24 and normally urges these pivotal points toward each other. Preferably the parts are so arranged and proportioned that the springs 25 are under an initial tension independent of the weight of the roller and associated parts.

In Figure 6, I have illustrated a modfied form of construction somewhat similar to that shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5. In the modified form, however, a compression spring instead of a tension spring is used. I have illustrated a compression spring 40 interposed between a vertical support I5 and a clevis 4! that is pivotally connected to the toggle joint. A rod 42 extends from clevis 4|, through the spring 40 and the flange of vertical support [5 A nut 43 threaded on the end of the rod not only serves to maintain the parts in position, but also functions as an adjustment to vary the initial precompression of the spring independent of the weight of the roller and associated parts. In other respects the construction and operation is similar to that illustrated and described in connection with Figures 1, 2 and 5.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that in either form of my invention, the movement of each individual roller will always be in a vertical plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the roller. Further, it will be noted that such vertical movement of each roller is controlled by the toggle joints resiliently supporting the roller. Due to the larger mechanical advantages obtained by a toggle joint, the resilient tension elements controlling the action of the toggle joints may be relatively light compared to the weight carried by the roller, thus a relatively compact structure is possible and the rollers may be spaced on relatively close centers.

The several parts comprising the structure are simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and easy to assemble.

What I claim is:

1. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a conveyer frame, a plurality of rollers mounted in said frame for vertical movement with respect to said frame, toggle levers connected at one end portion to said rollers and at the opposite end portion to the conveyer frame, and resilient means normally urging said toggles in a direction tending to straighten the same.

2. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a conveyer frame, a plurality of rollers mounted in said frame for vertical movement with respect to said frame, toggle levers connected at one end portion to said rollers and at the opposite end portion to the conveyer frame, and tension elements interconnecting the pivotal point of said toggles with said frame.

3. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a conveyer frame, a plurality of rollers mounted in said frame and each having the end portions of the axle extending through slots in said frame, a toggle lever connected at one end portion to said axle and at the opposite end portion to the conveyer frame, and a tension spring connected at one end to the frame and at the opposite end to the pivotal point of said toggle whereby said toggle is normally urged in a direction tending to straighten the same.

4. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a conveyer frame having a plurality of vertically disposed and transversely aligned slots therein, a plurality of rollers having axles engaged in said slots, a toggle joint connected to each end portion of each roller axle, the opposite end portions of said toggle joints being pivotally connected to the conveyer frame, and resilient means connected to said toggle joints and normally urging the same in a direction tending to straighten the same.

5. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a conveyer frame having a plurality of vertically disposed and transversely aligned slots therein, a plurality of rollers having axles engaged in said slots, a toggle joint connected to each end portion of each roller axle, the opposite end portions of said toggle joints being pivotally connected to the conveyer frame, and a tension spring for each toggle, said spring being connected at one end to the conveyer frame, and at the opposite end to said toggle joint.

6. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a conveyer frame, a roller journalled for rotation and movable as a unit with respect to said frame, and a spring urged toggle joint connected between said roller and said frame and controlling the movement of said roller with respect to said frame.

'7. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a conveyer frame, a plurality of rollers mounted in said frame for vertical movement with respect to said frame, a pair of angularly disposed lever arms connected adjacent their upper end portions to each roller, a second pair of angularly disposed lever arms pivotally connected to the conveyer frame, the lower end portions of the first mentioned lever arms being pivotally connected to the upper end portions of the second mentioned lever arms to define a toggle, and a tension element interconnecting said arms.

8. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a conveyer frame, a plurality of rollers mounted in said frame for vertical movement with respect to said frame, a pair of angularly disposed lever arms connected adjacent their upper end portions to each roller, a second pair of angularly disposed lever arms pivotally connected to the conveyer frame, the lower end portions of the first mentioned lever arms being pivotally connected to the upper end portions of the second mentioned lever arms to define a toggle, and a coil spring interconnecting the pivotal points of said arms.

9. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a conveyer frame, a plurality of rollers mounted in said frame for vertical movement with respect to said frame, a pair of angularly disposed lever arms connected adjacent their upper end portions to each end of each roller, a second pair of angularly disposed lever arms pivotally connected to each side rail of the conveyer frame beneath each end of each roller, the lower end portions of the first mentioned lever arms being pivotally connected to the upper end portions of the second mentioned lever arms to define a toggle, and a spring interconnecting the pivotal points of said arms.

10. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a conveyer frame, a plurality of rollers mounted in said frame for vertical movement with respect to said frame, a pair of angularly disposed lever arms connected adjacent their upper end portions to each end of each roller, a second pair of angularly disposed lever arms pivotally connected to each side rail of the conveyer frame beneath each end of each roller, the lower end portions of the first mentioned lever arms being pivotally connected to the upper end portions of the second mentioned lever arms to define a toggle, and a spring interconnecting the pivotal points of said arms, said springs being pretensioned to a force in addition to the force exerted by the weight of the roller and associated parts, whereby said roller is normally urged upwardly to resist the weight of a load passing thereover.

11. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a conveyer frame, a plurality of rollers mounted in said frame for vertical movement with respect to said frame, toggle levers connected at one end portion to said rollers and at the opposite end portion to the conveyer frame, and resilient means interposed between said toggle levers and said frame, said resilient means being adapted to resist movement of said toggle joint in a direction as a result of a downwardly directed force on said rollers.

12. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a conveyer frame, a plurality of rollers mounted in said frame for vertical movement with respect to said frame, toggle levers connected at one end portion to said rollers and at the opposite end portion to the conveyer frame, a compression spring interposed between said toggle levers and said frame and adapted to resist movement of said toggle joint in a direction as a result of a downwardly directed force on said rollers, and means for compressing said spring in addition to the weight of the rollers and associated parts.

13. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a conveyer frame, a plurality of rollers mounted in said frame for vertical displacement with respect to said frame, toggle levers connected adjacent one end portion to said rollers and adjacent the opposite end portion to the conveyer frame, and resilient means controlling the vertical movement of said rollers and tending to resist a downwardly directed force on said rollers.

14. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a conveyer frame having a plurality of vertically disposed and transversely aligned slots therein, a plurality of rollers having axles engaged in said slots, a toggle joint connected to each end portion of said roller axle, the opposite end portions of said toggle joints being pivotally connected to the conveyer frame, and resilient means connected to said toggle joints and controlling the vertical movement of said rollers and tending to resist a downwardly directed force on said rollers.

MEREL S. BOWEN. 

